Pro Series Chaos: Short-track racing often leads to on-track altercations between drivers during the heat of the moment. But by every standard, during a recent Pro Series race at Tri Country Motor Speedway during Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s racing series things got a bit out of control.
There were two separate altercations involving drivers on the track and then later off the race track. Thereafter controversy brewed amongst the racing community. Some time later after the incident, Junior spoke about the matter on his podcast where he revealed his thoughts on what transpired at the race track.
Junior mentioned, “You know Tony Sr. right? He’s my old crew chief from Cup days. He was there, he was helping… and they were helping Chris Wright in the Pro race. And so the pro race is happening and Tony Sr. texts me and he goes, ‘Is this your series?'”
I was like yeah, stick around man the late model stock race won’t be that way… So I’ll be honest with you man, straight up the pro race was embarrassing. I want things to be sensational,” added the two-time Daytona 500 champion.
I want there to be some controversy. I am okay with drivers going over that line and maybe being a bit aggressive. But a lot of what I saw was egregious and just too much right?”
Lastly, he added how the drivers in the Pro Series were mostly younger talents and had some work to do with their race craft. He believed the only way to improve matters in that division was by improving the instructions provided in the drivers’ meetings.
The race had quite a few on-track altercations between young racing drivers during the Pro Series event. One began after Katie Hettinger intentionally wrecked and retaliated against Caden Kvapil during the race. After the incident, Hettinger was handed a one-race suspension for her antics. Hence, she would not be allowed to race at Caraway Speedway for the season finale.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Ashton Higgins hopped out of his race car after being wrecked and crossed an active race track just to smack the car of another driver who was entering the pits. Following the incident, the decision was made to put him on probation for the rest of the season, along with a $500 fine.
Aside from the drivers receiving a penalty, several members of Higgins’ team also received a one-race suspension as well as a fine for instigating a brawl by entering the other team’s pit area. All in all, the night remained an eventful one, bringing a sea of controversy with it. While publicity is always good, this one may have gone a little too far.
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